In a rare move, the Academy has removed a nomination for best original song. / Alberto E. Rodriguez Getty Images

by Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY

by Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY

In a rare move, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Board of Governors has disqualified the best original song nomination for the movie Alone Yet Not Alone.

The vote to rescind the nomination for the song, with music by Bruce Broughton and lyrics by Dennis Spiegel, came Tuesday night after apparent improper lobbying for the film came to light.

According to a statement from the academy, the decision was prompted "by the discovery that Broughton, a former governor and current music branch executive committee member, had emailed members of the branch to make them aware of his submission during the nominations voting period."

This was deemed to be "inconsistent" with the academy's nominations procedure.

"No matter how well-intentioned the communication, using one's position as a former governor and current executive committee member to personally promote one's own Oscar submission creates the appearance of an unfair advantage," said Cheryl Boone Isaacs, academy president, in the statement released on Wednesday evening.

There was surprise that the micro-budgeted Christian movie had received a nomination and there were allegations of backroom dealings prior to the vote to remove the nomination.

A new song nomination will not be named to replace the removed nomination.

"This is exceptionally rare but not unprecedented," says Dave Karger, host of Fandango.com's awards show Frontrunners. "Although the whole situation is quite embarrassing, I do feel like the academy did the right thing here. I just feel bad for whomever should have been the fifth nominee."

Here are the remaining best song nominations:

Happyfrom Despicable Me 2 Music and Lyric by Pharrell Williams

Let It Go from Frozen Music and Lyric by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez

The Moon Song from Her Music by Karen O; Lyric by Karen O and Spike Jonze

Ordinary Love from Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Music by Paul Hewson, Dave Evans, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen; Lyric by Paul Hewson